Associação entre comportamento sedentário e rigidez arterial em uma população brasileira: Estudo Corações de Baependi

Abstract

Increased arterial stiffness is an important independent predictor of cardiovascular risk and is directly associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality. Although the influence of physical activity on arterial stiffness is well documented, the association between sedentary behavior and arterial stiffness, particularly in populations with a wide age range, remains poorly explored. This cross-sectional study, based on data from the second follow-up wave (2010–2013) of the Baependi Heart Study, included 2,134 participants aged 18 to 100 years. Sedentary behavior was assessed using the short version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and stratified into tertiles, while arterial stiffness was estimated by carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV), measured through applanation tonometry (Complior SP®). Analyses were performed using linear models adjusted for age, mean arterial pressure, physical activity level, antihypertensive therapy, and sex. Results showed that individuals in the highest sedentary time tertile presented greater cfPWV progression compared to those in the lowest tertile, an association that remained significant only among participants aged 65 years or older. In conclusion, sedentary behavior is independently associated with increased arterial stiffness in older adults, reinforcing the importance of strategies aimed at reducing sedentary time as part of cardiovascular prevention measures.